APRIL 2014 CAR SPOTTERS THREAD!

[ocnblu]

Here's hoping the Polar Vortex becomes a distant memory. Spots should be springing up everywhere this month. Post yours here, if you please.

[G. David Felt]

Saw a Tesla this morning being flatbedded by Mac towing services. Not sure if it broke down or just ran out of charge.

Thinking about this, I guess for the absent minded, if they forget to charge and drive off, they for now will have to be towed till AAA or some other company figures out how to deliver a 220V charge to power these auto's.

[Drew Dowdell]

Actually they flatbed them for service. Rather than you going to the service center, a loaner tesla is brought to you and they take yours.

[ocnblu]

Pulled by an F-250 PowerStroke diesel, YEAH!

[Drew Dowdell]

I've seen the M-B CLA at the shows a bunch of times, while I never thought it was a great looking car, I never thought it looked "bad". Well twice on a recent road trip that took me through NYC I saw them... what a dumpy looking car in rear! Im sure they are selling them on badge only. I'd rather a Verano and a fat wallet instead or if I have the cash a real Benz in the C-Class.

[balthazar]

They are the anti-mercedes (except for the grille); tiny & utterly generic.

'70 Ford Torino 4-dr sedan, pea green, unrestored, rolling, 'TORINO' vanity plate.

'66 Pontiac LeMans 2-dr sedan, minty green, Rallye IIs, fresh, rolling.

'65 Pontiac LeMans 2-dr hardtop, another shade of minty green, sitting alongside tract house, missing one front fender but otherwise clean.

'65 Chevy Biscayne 2-dr sedan, burgandy, sitting on other side of the same tract house, a bit rough.

[G. David Felt]

Generation 1 dodge durango sitting next to the current durango at the park n ride lot this morning. Amazing how well the new durango is executed to capture the same size and body style that made the first generation such a home run success.

[Drew Dowdell]

5 Tesla Model-S on a trip from NJ to RI and back. One of which I encountered in South Jersey and then again in Connecticut as they were just leaving the super-charger station. We were making the same pace over that road trip.

[G. David Felt]

But I bet it did not take as long for you to fuel as it took for them to charge.

[Drew Dowdell]

Does that really matter over the course of a trip? They also do not need to charge to full, they only need to charge enough to get to their next charge point.

They also save time by charging while doing other stuff. While I have to stay by the pump to push 27 gallons into a Suburban, they go into the rest stop, eat, use the facilities, and go while their car is being charged.

Teslas require a change in thinking about refueling habits.

[Drew Dowdell]

Two pristine Allantes and an Audi R8 all in the span of 5 minutes. Made me wonder if there was a car cruise around nearby, but the weather has been nasty all day.

[A Horse With No Name]

Tesla is going to be highly tempting once they bring out their cheaper mid sized car. I love these things. Soon ftw!

[GMTruckGuy74]

Searched out 2014 GMC 2500 HD Sierra SLE Regular Cab pickups yesterday and found the only 'SLE' trimmed model at Perrine Buick-GMC in Cranberry, NJ. Decided to take a ride out there Sunday to check it out:

They ended up having a 2015 GMC 250 HD Sierra SLE Regular Cab too:

DO WANT!! Not that a regular cab long bed pickup is the ideal combination for my family needs

The wife found what she wants for her next vehicle:

(yes, that's her behind the wheel of the unlocked Encore on the dealer's lot!)

Edited April 7, 2014 by GMTruckGuy74

[ocnblu]

There is something awesome about a 3/4 ton regular cab 4X4 pickup truck. I love 'em too. Red is not my color, but that '15 is just dandy.

[Drew Dowdell]

She's going to love that Encore when you finally buy one for her.

[GMTruckGuy74]

There is something awesome about a 3/4 ton regular cab 4X4 pickup truck. I love 'em too. Red is not my color, but that '15 is just dandy.

If it was in Stealth Gray Metallic or Sonoma Red Metallic, I'd have an even harder time finding solid reasons to say 'no' to buying it

She's going to love that Encore when you finally buy one for her.

Yeah, she spent easily 15-20 minutes sitting in that Encore, playing with the audio system (since when did GM make the audio system operational without the key in the ignition?). That one was pricey, MSRP $34,975 for the Premium AWD package with White Diamond paint ($995), 18" Chrome Rims ($995), Sunroof ($800) and Navigation ($795). I like the rims but not at that price, the other options I couldn't care less about but not her!! She wants all of them. Of course I just put $580 worth of new tires on the G6 and we have 2 or 3 more payments to go (0% for 72 months). Plus at 96k miles, I'm sure the trade-in value won't be great. The plan is to hold off on a new purchase for her until 2015, and most likely a return to leasing so I don't have to worry about paying for a car that will have a ton of miles put on it. I think taking her to the Buick-GMC dealership wasn't such a great idea afterall

[Drew Dowdell]

We skipped the Chrome Rims, but we do have the upmarket paint (Carbon Black + $495), so it was roughly similar to ours. What was the interior color?

I actually like ours without the chrome rims. Easier to keep clean.

We're getting excellent fuel economy on ours.. city is usually mid-20s and highway is low-mid 30s. Not too shabby for a tall car with AWD.

[GMTruckGuy74]

The interior was 'Titanium' - basically gray with the black accents. This is the first time we've seen this color in the White Diamond; usually the dealers are bringing the White Diamond with the Saddle color interion (brown), which she and I don't like. That was another of her reasons why she 'liked' this one

[G. David Felt]

Very cool to hear about the Encore, way to go guys!

The interior was 'Titanium' - basically gray with the black accents. This is the first time we've seen this color in the White Diamond; usually the dealers are bringing the White Diamond with the Saddle color interion (brown), which she and I don't like. That was another of her reasons why she 'liked' this one

Make Mothers Day extra special and get it for her!

[GMTruckGuy74]

Very cool to hear about the Encore, way to go guys!

The interior was 'Titanium' - basically gray with the black accents. This is the first time we've seen this color in the White Diamond; usually the dealers are bringing the White Diamond with the Saddle color interion (brown), which she and I don't like. That was another of her reasons why she 'liked' this one

Make Mothers Day extra special and get it for her!

You're too funny, dfelt!! How would I follow-up next year? All Weather Floor Mats just wouldn't do it, I'm sure

Her G6 is almost paid off, she's always the one whining about car payments and gave me the whole speech in February (@ the Philly Car Show) that while she'd like a new Encore having a car that's paid off and owned free and clear is more important to her. Fast foward two months and let her sit in an Encore that's equipped the way she wants and boy does she change her tune quickly!!

We'll see what happens later this year after her G6 is paid off (June or July I think). I can't get my new Canyon until later this year since they have a fall introduction so maybe we get a two-for deal

[Drew Dowdell]

time to bank 12 months of car payments into a very nice down payment on the Encore. The new, more efficient and more torquey powerplants should be in place by then as well.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Yeah, that's the logic I've explained to her Drew. If we continue putting the G6 monthly payment into savings, next summer she can get herself a nicely equipped car or a decent lease.

[G. David Felt]

Yeah, that's the logic I've explained to her Drew. If we continue putting the G6 monthly payment into savings, next summer she can get herself a nicely equipped car or a decent lease.

Good thinking but just wait and see, Woman have the right to change their mind and boy mine sure does often. Though lately with the focus on her education she has not done that much lately.

[§carlet §wordfish]

[Drew Dowdell]

If that trunk had been out in the Indian ocean, the Malaysian flight could have landed safely...

[balthazar]

^ Ha- but that's merely a Super 88. Line up a 98 next to it.

After hitting the sweet spot stylistically in -say-54-57, Olds dropping into the barrel bottom by '59-61. '62s & after improved immeasurably, tho.

'57 Plymouth Savoy 4-dr sedan, grey primer with green scallops, rollin.

[Drew Dowdell]

'59s aren't bad, but Oldsmobile looses me in '60. I'm indecisive about '61 and then they're pretty much dead to me until '64

[balthazar]

I can dump '59-63 inclusive (tho a chunk of me wants to save the 62 Starfire).

'64s are pretty bangin'... the problem there is; there were also '64 Pontiacs built.

Edited April 12, 2014 by balthazar

[ocnblu]

I don't care for the '58 or '59 Olds, but the '60 is almost as nice as the '60 Pontiac, which is the best looking 1960 model year car.

[§carlet §wordfish]

Interesting. I like the '60-'61 Olds, after that they start to get boring to me.

[Drew Dowdell]

What's the size difference 88 v. 98?

[balthazar]

Not as much as I thought- 3.3" wheelbase & 4" body length... but in the 2-drs, this length is all in the deck.

Were I to rank the GM-60s, it'd be :

1. Cadillac

2. Pontiac

5. Buick

7. Chevy

14. Olds

...if you get my numbering implication.

[GMTruckGuy74]

My first 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 HD sighting, and a chassis cab model at that:

Saw it at Arena Buick-GMC in Hammonton, NJ (it's on the way to A/C ). Passed by there yesterday as I travelled with the family to Cardiff, NJ (Storybook Land for the kiddies).

Saw my first '15 Sierra 2500 HD on the road on my way into work this morning. It was the bronze (brown) metallic color and was a double cab 4WD model. Boy did it look sweet drive down the highway

Edited April 14, 2014 by GMTruckGuy74

[ocnblu]

First-gen Monza convertible, white with red interior, top down, cruising into the Lowe's parking lot.

[balthazar]

'57 Ford 2-dr sedan, medium blue, blackwalls, hood scoop opened up, rumbling, pretty sure I saw roll cage thru the back window too.

[G. David Felt]

Saw this bad boy at the park-n-ride lot yesterday and was surprised how clean it was. Great candidate for restoring.

[caddycruiser]

Dropped new Accord cruising the highways:

[caddycruiser]

While in Austin, TX last week for a few days...more new 2015 Tahoes, Yukons, Suburbans and more than I've seen anywhere.

Good example, back at my hotel 2 more new ones (fresh car service cars already) pulling out back to back.

Texas. Trucks. Everywhere.

[balthazar]

Pre-girder bumper Checker Superba sedan, grey primer, sitting on its frame in the back corner of a scrap yard, pretty solid looking- chrome grille has minor rust.

EDIT: checking the Book, the last year for the Superba was 1963, so this was an oldie.

Edited April 18, 2014 by balthazar

[G. David Felt]

Pre-girder bumper Checker Superior sedan, grey primer, sitting on its frame in the back corner of a scrap yard, pretty solid looking- chrome grille has minor rust.

[balthazar]

Don't know I'm going to take the 20 min ride back for pics of the Checker, dfelt. But I did take a ride to shoot these this AM :

'47 :

My buddy's '55, ran yesterday for first time in 10 years:

I've seen a handful of this vintage MB just rotting- I assume they're not worth restoring, even if it has a nice, American-inspired hardtop :

Now THIS is something interesting. '56-65 Fiat 600 Multipla:

Specs~

WB : 78", OL : 139", width: 57", height: 62" curb weight: 1543, 0.63 or 0.76L I4. 0-50 MPH in 43 secs, top speed 57 MPH.

This one had the optional seating for 6. Engine was out & sitting in the interior. ROugh, but savable.

WOuld be pretty cool to somehow stuff a small turbo'd 4 in there with about 250 HP.
I'm actually going to have to ask if it's for sale.

[Lamar]

Buick Centurion convertible, cherry red, CLEAN. With the 455 (as evidenced by the badges).

I'm young enough to admit that I had never even heard of the Centurion before today. I looked it up, and it was only built for three years. Interesting.

[§carlet §wordfish]

Saw an Eagle wagon, and that '60 Olds again, this time with a pretty lady behind the wheel.

[balthazar]

Buick Centurion convertible, cherry red, CLEAN. With the 455 (as evidenced by the badges). I'm young enough to admit that I had never even heard of the Centurion before today. I looked it up, and it was only built for three years. Interesting.

This position in the Buick catalog went as follows : Century '38-58, Invicta '59-62, Wildcat '63-70, Centurion '71-73.

The name changed, but the concept remained consistent : the smaller full-size body with the largest engine.

[Robert Hall]

I've seen a handful of this vintage MB just rotting- I assume they're not worth restoring, even if it has a nice, American-inspired hardtop :

Prices on W111 SE coupes seems to be all over the place, depending on the engine...from under $10k to around $50k on Hemmings. The cabrios, on the other hand, seem to be considerably higher--$65-90k or so... I had a teacher when I was in the 4th grade that had one--minty condition, around a '62 in a lilac color (similar to 1965 GM Evening Orchid).

[ocnblu]

Clapped-out AMC Eagle wagon in red, still chugging. Mid-60's Olds Starfire, on the highway with me heading to York this morning. I swear it had exhaust ports exiting the quarter panels... was I dreaming? Will need to google.

[§carlet §wordfish]

Yellow Pontiac Fiero Formula

[Robert Hall]

This morning I saw a new 2nd gen silver Ford Transit Connect passenger version..first one of these I've seen, looks quite different from the 1st gen model...one neat detail is it has a wiper on each rear door window...

on the way home saw a gorgeous tastefully customized '59 Caddy Coupe de Ville gliding down a major street---lowered w/ large chrome TTs and painted an incredible indigo blue...

Edited April 26, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[balthazar]

Mid-60's Olds Starfire, on the highway with me heading to York this morning. I swear it had exhaust ports exiting the quarter panels... was I dreaming? Will need to google.

You must've seen this : http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hha9bqSeew/UGd602KKoZI/AAAAAAAASKI/1JSusjzmAIY/s1600/1965-Oldsmobile-starfire-2-door-hardtop-coupe-4.jpg

I recall the feature on the '65s, factory brochure does call them 'side exhaust'- implying they're functional. Wow.

Edited April 26, 2014 by balthazar

[ocnblu]

Cool, yup, that's it! Only these were hooked up, unlike your photo. Thanks!